Top Production Cars of LA Auto Show 2013

The vehicles to place on your wish list

While the full features and specs for most of the vehicles found on this list have already hit the web we compiled some of the most notable for you all in one place. Fresh insight and pictures included. The Los Angeles Auto Show this year brought out a range of technologically advanced rides. Long gone are the days of non-digitized center consoles and ignorant ECUs. Hybrid performance has jumped leaps and bounds forward and big money luxury brands are now offering more affordable models.

While the tuner purists had few vehicles to lust over at the 2013 LA Auto Show there were still many unveils to please the overall automotive enthusiast. Swift compact crossovers to AWD corner killers and big body luxury rides, below you will find the variety of new vehicles soon to be seen on streets near you.

Hey, hey Godzilla. This pumped up GT-R reaches 60 mph in 2 seconds and received a stamp of approval from the world’s fastest man and Nissan’s director of excitement, Usain Bolt at the LA Auto Show unveiling. Nissan is celebrating its 80th anniversary in true performance fashion with this Nismo release, to be available here in mid-2014. A Juke RS Nismo also posed for pics in hopped-up crossover fashion.

Fred Diaz, Divisional Vice President Nissan Sales and Marketing Parts and Service North America said, “Our strategy with Nismo is to appeal not only to the diehard and race-hard enthusiasts, but also to the people who might like the imagery of high-performance lifestyles. But what’s really important is that it’s still very affordable. Just like all of our Nismos that have come before.”

The ninth generation Civic may go down in history as one of Honda¹s biggest headaches but Honda made sure to get past that with its recent Civic unveil. After caving last year to criticism about the design of the then-new 2012 sedan, the 2014 coupe is now also receiving a major refresh like the 2013 four-door.

The platform’s nose and tail were reworked, and in Si trim there’s even more exterior differentiation, such as larger, 18-inch wheels and tires with new wheel designs. Inside tweaks like new seat fabrics, door panel trim and audio panel color coordination were applied to all models. Engine and handling performance have also been upgraded ­ the Si in particular getting four more horsepower and lb.-ft. of torque ­ and options like constantly variable transmission (CVT), Push-Button start and nav-ready “Display Audio” with seven-inch pinch, tap and swipe touchscreen are also available.

To the listening ears of tuners Michael Accavitti, Senior Vice president of Honda Automotive Operations said, “The tuner market can expect a lot of excitement coming from the Honda brand. We hear the customers. We are working as hard as we can to bring all of that stuff revealed at the Tokyo Motor Show here to this market [U.S.]. We want to bring as much of that fun-to-drive technology we have available around the world back here into the United States.”

By now you have heard some form of news surrounding the mostly new from the ground up Subaru WRX. Gone away is the hatch and in its place is an AWD road king equipped with a 268hp 2.0L direct-injection turbo boxer engine. On or off-road this corner killer is going to be the lust of many tuners in the market for a new whip.

Bucky Lasek, Subaru Rally America driver and pro skateboarder said, “I’ll be testing the new WRX out soon. We’re doing some promo stuff with it coming up very shortly. I think it was just time to bring the sedan in first. It’s just a matter of time before the hatch is brought out again though. They say the performance is up 40 percent on this one from things like a stiffer chassis. A lot of the stuff I fixed on my street car is already fixed on this new car with a lot of the bushing and stability stuff so it should handle a lot better.”

Tom Doll, President and COO of Subaru of America said, “With the 2015 WRX we wanted to dramatically improve the handling and overall drivability of the vehicle. This really is the best handling WRX we’ve had on the market. The thinking behind going back to a sedan was that the true performance driver wants to drive a sedan. Although we’ve sold a lot of hatches, we thought the sedan model would be more indicative to the performance-minded driver.”

Awarded “Design of the Year” by sister publication Automobile Magazine, there is no doubt this very green BMW i8 sports car will carry a timeless style for decades to come. The hybrid utilizes a turbocharged three-cylinder gasoline engine and a plug-in electric motor in an effort to maximize efficiency. And it can be yours for an MSRP of $136,625.

The production of the i Series focuses on renewable and recyclable practices. From the carbon “Life Module” body created at BMW’s latest eco-friendly carbon fiber plant in Moses Lake, WA to decreasing the carbon-footprint on road is the name of the game.

Peter Miles, Executive Vice President of Operations BMW North America said, “The i Series is the beginning of a new trend in electric powertrains in the U.S. and California is the bleeding edge of that kind of technology. This is the bleeding edge of technology for us and the catalyst to expanding. Carbon fiber is very new in the auto industry from a mass production standpoint but will come into greater and greater use, for instance. The i8 delivers a high-performance car with a low carbon footprint.”

Welcome to year 2045, city center commuters. On the urban skip-around end is the very compact BMW i3. Not built to break drag times this little tic-tac will get you from 0-62 mph in a brand estimated of 7.2 seconds. Nothing about this car screams outdated. It is the future of maneuvering ever-congested downtowns to the dismay of all of us big body fans.

Peter Miles, Executive Vice President of Operations BMW North America said, “I don’t think the i Series is going to become a significant proportion of the total sales for some time –10 percent of the total electric vehicles sold over the next 10 years would be a fairly big number. Our belief in producing the i3 and i8 is that we will take the leadership position in the premium segment because consumers will see we have taken a very holistic approach. It isn’t just about creating an electric-powered vehicle. From the factories that produce these cars that are powered by windmills to the carbon fiber produced in part by hydropower to the recyclability of whole car and the recycled plastics used in the interior/exterior, this car is beyond simple electro-mobility. It is the whole proposition from manufacturing process to the car itself to the recyclability of it.”

BMW has dabbled in every avenue of the automotive market from the SUV, to sports cars, fully-electric and luxury sedans. The 4 Series Convertible offers buyers an alternative to the typical soft top while also providing the performance and features expected from the brand. Pricing has starts at $48,750 for the 428i and $54,900 for the 435i.

A BMW rep said this about the design on this car, “We had four things in mind when we developed this car: design, driving performance, features, and usability.” And this is most obvious with the new load assistance feature and others such as the neck warmers.

The F-Type Coupe made its global debut on November 19, 2013 at Raleigh Studios in Playa Vista, CA. The Coupe R variant is equipped with a 550hp supercharged 5.0L V8 capable of reaching 0-60 mph in claimed 4 seconds flat. Top speed is 186 mph. The F-Type Coupe will go on sale starting spring 2014.

Tim Philippo, Jaguar Sports Cars Product Manager said, “What the Coupe really represents for us is that it more than doubles the market potential of the F-Type. We launched in California because California is the largest sports car market in the world."

The 2013 LA Auto Show welcomed two new longer and more luxurious Range Rover variants to the lineup: Autobiography and Autobiography Black. Both offer more passenger room and creature comforts.

Simon Turner, Range Rover Sport Product Manage said, “We find that our customers really have an ongoing appetite for more and more luxury and refinement and more amenities, so that is really the story with the Autobiography Black.”

You might be wondering the meaning behind the name. Turner explained, “The story is around black label, black labeled products are usually the pinnacle or the premium of whatever brand it is.” Prices start at $137,000 for the Autobiography and $142,000 for the Autobiography Black, which will be limited to 100 production units.

Executives looking for a new ride to chauffer clients around, listen up. Paul R. La Penta, Assistant Product Manager AMG said, “The S65 is the flagship of the S-Class, pinnacle of the industry and sits at the top of the S-Class. It is really the ultimate in luxury and performance. Not only does it have a high performance V12 engine but it also has a stop/start system, which helps on fuel consumption. It’s not only about performance, we are also very aware of the environment.”

The 2015 S65 AMG has a number of technological features including pedestrian detection, which can stop the vehicle a person jumps out in front of you. Pricing for the U.S. has not been announced.

Enter a very affordable compact SUV from ‘Benz. While GLA250 pricing has yet to be announced, we predict that the younger crowd will have an easier time entering into the Mercedes-Benz brand than ever before. Anna Kleinebreil, Assistant Product Manager CLA, GLA, SLK, B-Class Product Manager said, “It will do something similar to what the CLA has done for us, to bring in new customers to the brand and bring attention to younger people and the young at heart. It is also for customers who have a very versatile and active lifestyle and that need a car that is very design oriented.”

Some impressive features include: collision prevention as standard and the dual clutch transmission that is being introduced into models such as the GLA as standard.

With an ever-growing presence in the green car market, Volkswagen has finally unveiled its first ever fully electric car to the U.S. The 2015 VW e-Golf features consumer friendly looks unlike some electric cars we have seen roaming the streets. This zero emissions vehicle is sure to sell in large numbers here, thanks to a growing demand for more environmentally friendly vehicles.

Wade Harris, E-Mobility Specialist Product Strategy, spoke with us about the significance this model plays to the Volkswagen family, “It is really to bring sustainable driving to the Golf family and the Volkswagen world. This is our first fully electric product in the U.S. The chassis is one of the greatest parts; it’s our new modular transverse matrix platform that allows us to package all types of engines and powertrains including electrics into the same vehicle.”

Made for track junkies everywhere, the Exige V6 Cup Car is equipped with the same supercharged V6 engine from Evora S but in a smaller Exige chassis weighing about 2,400 lbs. An available 345hp, 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and top speed is 165 mph this go-kart is legal for closed circuit use only – useable in the Lotus Cup USA racing series.

Then there is the V6 Cup R. it is the same basic car but lighter still at about 2,300 lbs. with a little more power and a much more prominent rear wing for increased down force. It is available with an X-Track sequential gearbox too. This one is meant for use as a true race car. Just like the new Elise S Cup R coming out for track use only. Production of these starts early next year.

Audi said farewell to the A3 hatchback and replaced it with the Audi A3 Sedan. In response to the newly launched Mercedes-Benz CLA250, Audi Engineers produced a sedan with the ability to compete in the compact luxury car segment.

The base model will go on sale in the spring of 2014 and carries a base MSRP of $29,900 (before destination charge). It comes equipped with a 1.8L turbocharged engine capable of producing 170hp using a six-speed automatic transmission. According to Audi, smaller doesn’t have to equal sacrifice, so even the base model comes standard with leather seats, xenon headlights, panoramic sunroof, and Bluetooth connectivity. An S3 (AWD 2.0L), TDI, Cabriolet and e-tron will also be available.

Audi introduced a new sportback plug-in hybrid into its lineup, the 2015 e-tron. According to Audi, sustainable mobility was the main focus when designing the four-door hatchback, as well as an alternative drive system. It comes equipped with a 1.4L turbocharged gasoline engine integrated into a six-speed automatic transmission.

Impressively, it features a combined output of 201hp and 258 lb-ft of torque when the 100hp e-motor is also engaged. Audi has not specified its electric range capability. It won’t be available until early 2015.

Here is a hybrid supercar that lapped the Nurburgring Nordschleife in 6:57 and can reach 0-62 mph in 2.7 seconds – the 2015 Nissan GT-R Nismo did it in 7:08.679. Need we say more? More affordable Porsches like the new Macan will continue to help fund the brand’s development of wild hybrids such as this 918 Spyder.

Want one? Hopefully your bank account also supports purchasing luxuries like a Scott Storch beat for your son’s newfound hip-hop career. The base model costs $845,000 while the more performance-oriented Weissach package will set you back near the million-dollar mark.

The baby brother of the Cayenne is here. The envy of every suburban soccer mom has arrived in the compact and affordable 2015 Porsche Macan crossover. Make no mistake, it was birthed from the brand’s performance leading DNA – hints of the Cayenne and 911 are found throughout. Buyers have the choice of two engines: 3.0L twin-turbo V6 making 340hp or a 3.6L twin-turbo V6 making 400hp. AWD and a 0-60 mph in the 4.4 seconds to 5.2 seconds range, depending on the performance package purchased, means it will be fun to drive.

The interior is plush and for a price somewhere in the range of $52,000-$62,000, according to Motor Trend, expect to see these all over Southern Californian streets and middle class suburban communities near you. The Macan will be available in the spring of 2014.